2018 Baltimore Orioles season

2018 Baltimore Orioles
2018 Baltimore Orioles
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	Oriole Park at Camden Yards
City	Baltimore, Maryland
Record	47–115 (.290)
Divisional place	5th
Owners	Peter Angelos
General managers	Dan Duquette
Managers	Buck Showalter
Television	MASN; (Gary Thorne, Jim Palmer, Mike Bordick, Jim Hunter)
Radio	WJZ-FM; Baltimore Orioles Radio Network; (Joe Angel, Jim Hunter, Ben McDonald, Mike Bordick)

The 2018 Baltimore Orioles season was the team's 118th season overall, 65th in Baltimore, and 27th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They attempted to rebound from their first losing season since 2011 when they went 75–87. However, the Orioles instead suffered one of the worst seasons in MLB history, going 47–115 and missing the playoffs for the second straight season. The Orioles set several statistical records and quirks, such as being 60 or more games behind the division (later World Series) champions Boston Red Sox, the most games behind a division champion since the 1935 Boston Braves, who themselves lost 115 games. They became the first team since the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who suffered a similar fate when they went 43–119, to have fewer than 50 wins in a full 162-game season. The Orioles held a losing record against all American League teams, ensured by their loss to the Houston Astros on September 28. First baseman Chris Davis posted a .168 batting average and a -2.7 WAR in his third year of a 7-year, $161 million contract, the worst of any player since Adam Dunn in 2011, who posted a -2.9 WAR and a .159 batting average.

The 2018 Orioles also set the MLB record of earliest playoff exit since the divisional era came to play in 1969, being eliminated from postseason contention on August 20, 2018. This record would not be threatened until 2023, when the Oakland Athletics were eliminated from postseason contention on August 23, 2023, despite the MLB adding an additional wild card spot to its playoff field.

To further add to the team's abysmal season, many of their key contributors including Manny Machado, Zack Britton, Jonathan Schoop, Darren O'Day, Kevin Gausman, and Brad Brach all left the team via trades in the trade deadline.

Manager Buck Showalter's and general manager Dan Duquette's contracts expired and were not renewed concluding the season.^[1]^[2]

^ "Buck Showalter will not be back with the Orioles next year". HardballTalk. October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.^{[dead link]}
^ Sheinin, Dave (October 3, 2018). "Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette out after Orioles' 115-loss season". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2018.

[1] "Buck Showalter will not be back with the Orioles next year". HardballTalk. October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.^{[dead link]}

[2] Sheinin, Dave (October 3, 2018). "Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette out after Orioles' 115-loss season". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2018.

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